Why Paper Towns isn't just another book for me

I've heard people rant about how Paper Towns is just another one of the John Green books, and how strikingly similar it is to Looking for Alaska, or how it is starkly analogous to the plot: boy is obsessed with the girl, and the girl disappears. I will not refute or approve this theory, but for reasons of my own, I beg to differ.

To me, Paper Towns is the book that was made for me, the book that feels me, if you know what I mean. I live by every word of it. And here is my reason: the quotes, the words and the dialogues, not just for what they represent in the plot, but for the deeper meaning they entail. Here's exemplifying a handful of them:

1. What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person

This quote is a case of been there, done that : I have been one of those people who amaze you with their creative prowess and genius, and I have seen how people viewed me as some deity, who always had magical solutions to all problems, when in reality it took me just as much pains and troubles as it did to them. Now that I look back, I can't figure where it started, but I do realize that it is treacherous to believe that a person is more than a person. Everyone loved the idea of me: the studious nerd who also coupled as a smart quizzer, writer, poet and whatnot. And I kind of hated it.

Update: People will call you superwoman and there will always be a flip side to it. You probably will never be able to explain this to people.

2. May be all the strings inside him broke

If you have ever been shattered or depressed beyond what words can describe, then you might know the feeling of something snapping inside of you. Some shred of hope dying inside, taking you a step apart from your definition of success. From experience I can tell you, that loss of hope is a fate equal to death.

3. “It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.” 

Who are we kidding? Goodbyes are always the hardest. They are the worst. But letting go is a great lesson in life. We all do that- leaving high school, leaving hometown, leaving college, leaving workplace. But, there is a certain form of liberation we experience when we detach ourselves. I know it may sound like one of those verses from holy scriptures, but let go of your High school, and you'll know how relieving and easy it is to have something to look forward to- even if it isn't a planned path!

4. Forever is composed of nows.

And this has got to be the lesson of our times. We are all busy planning, laying down a path to follow, worrying about the future, taking less risks. And where does that land us? We are stranded in a complacent place with no regard whatsoever to the gift of present. Plans fail, times change and
the future s uncertain, so, yeah- accept it.

5.  That's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they're pretty. It's like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.

Isn't that the truth in it's unaltered and bare form? This is how human beings function. We give a lot of importance to looks, we love/hate depending upon looks. We are hypocrites. Okay, enough said.

6. If you don't imagine, nothing ever happens at all

Here's our very own John Green emphasizing the importance of imagination. The same reason we love fairies, believe in unicorns and love to delve into fiction. Because, if we never believe in something, it might never happen. Belief can make wonders happen, but then undermining the importance of imagination in our life is something we might regret for a long, long time in future.

 7. As much as life can suck, it always beats the alternative.

We may curse life in the bad times, we may hate it all we want: but nothing can compare to the roller-coaster that life is. The ups and downs, the elation and agony, the sorrows and joys- death couldn't be this varied.

I could go on and on, but after this dose of Paper Town-talk, I need to re-read the book. I take leave.

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